Blackpool 0 Walsall 4

William Watt

Neil McDonald’s sorry Blackpool remain at the bottom of the table after being hammered against Walsall.

A Romaine Sawyers brace was added to by a Sam Mantom header and a terrible Clark Robertson own goal sealed the win for Dean Smith’s Saddlers who moved to the top of the table.

With once again no new faces in Blackpool’s squad, McDonald was forced to name a very familiar looking side, although there was a change in formation.

Gone is the defensive 4-5-1 in favour of a 4-4-2 which saw Jack Redshaw return to Pool’s attack.

Elsewhere Tom Aldred rightly kept his place at the back after a decent first outing of the season last weekend at Sheffield United.

With almost two thousand away supporters inside Bloomfield Road there was a lively atmosphere at kick-off although the home stands were once again looking distinctly bare.

Although the noise from the away ends made it feel like an away game, it was Blackpool who started the game the brightest, earning an early corner, clearly on the front foot.

And in the opening ten minutes you have to say it was McDonald’s men who were winning the battle.

Pool had the look of a side with plenty to prove and who had been fired up pre-match by their manager, it was an impressive start.

There was no surprise when the game’s first effort fell to Blackpool, with Henry Cameron firing just wide from 18 yards.

The chance seemed to wake Walsall up and just a minute later almost opened the scoring with what would have been a lovely goal.

Strikers Romaine Sawyers and Tom Bradshaw linking up superbly before the later fired just wide.

Bradshaw has started the season like a house on fire and on that evidence you can see why, it was a lovely move.

As the half went on the away side really started to find their feet and on 25 minutes took the lead when Sawyers snuck in behind Pool’s back four to poke past Kyle Letheren.

It was a lovely finish but far too easy for the away side.

Sadly it was all too inevitable, Walsall in the lead without really having to work for it and Blackpool struggling to find a breakthrough despite plenty of effort.

Most of Walsall’s joy was coming down the left-hand side with Rico Henry causing problems and on 38 minutes it was almost game over when he fired towards goal, only for a superb block on the line from David Ferguson.

The rest of the half was a non-event, although I think Blackpool will be at least pleased to keep the score to one.

Pool’s supporters booed as the half-time whistle went, probably out of frustration more than a reflection of the display, although a half with no shots on target for the Seasiders probably spoke volumes.

Unlike the first half it was Walsall who started well, and mustered the first effort of the second period when Sam Manton robbed Brad Potts and fired over from 22 yards.

On 55 minutes Walsall had a huge shout for a penalty when the lively Henry clashed with Ferguson inside the box, both went to ground but referee Eddie Ilderton waved it away.

For me it was a correct call.

Just two minutes later it was game over, and sadly it was a Blackpool player who got Walsall’s second goal.

Yet again Henry was involved down the left and his brilliant cross was misjudged by Clark Robertson who sliced past Letheren into the net.

At just 18 you have to say Henry looks a huge talent for the Saddlers, one to watch for the future on this display.

From then on in it was all Walsall who looked every bit a team who were set tp move to the top of the table.

Pool were struggling defensively, and striker Bradshaw had two chances within a minute to totally kill the game off.

First he ran onto a long punt from Jason Demetriou to force a save from Letheren before rattling the post from 15 yards.

Just moments the inevitable third goal came and it was terrible defending from Blackpool once again as Sam Mantom drifted in behind Emmerson Boyce for a free-header from five yards.

It was terrible from Blackpool who looked totally and utterly shot.

With 15 minutes to go it got worse, but this time it was a piece of individual magic as Sawyers found the top corner from long range.

Superb stuff but the home fans had seen enough as they headed for the exit.